The real difference between Liberal and Labor

Xavier Toby

Now that the dust has settled on the election, and before we ignore politics for another three years, let's have a quick think about what a vote for Liberal or Labor really meant.

What I've deduced isn't about the policies, the leaders, the stupid mistakes they make or the colour of their ties.

I don't think the Labor Party lost votes because they did a bad job. They lost votes because everyone's doing so well.

If you voted...

Liberal, you're selfish.

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Labor, you want to waste money.

Liberal, you have no hope for society.

Labor, you have hope, and can cope with disappointment.

Liberal, you think stuff everyone else, my money is for me.

Labor, you believe in sharing for the good of society, but don't mind that a lot of it will be going to the public service. The most overpaid, overqualified and least effective workforce in all of human history.

Not much of a choice, is it?

If you think the two major parties are basically the same, you're wrong.

Some of their policies might be similar, but what they stand for is completely different.

The Liberal Party believes in a small government with lower taxes, less money for health and other services, and making things as easy as possible for big and small business.

They believe that if you want something, go and get if for yourself - we're not going to help you. However, once you've got it, we're not going to take it off you.

The Labor Party believe in higher taxes to fund a larger public sector. The idea being to provide basic levels of health, education and other core services for everyone, regardless of how much money they earn.

It's the poor execution of this philosophy that brought the Labor Party undone.

Now there's no man on this planet who I respect more than my Dad. We often disagree when it comes to anything but football.

This election, he voted Liberal and I voted Labor.

To my surprise, he agreed when I said that Liberal voters were selfish.

"So you don't care about helping other less fortunate than you?" I asked.

He said, "Of course I do. What I don't believe in is throwing my money away on their problems. Especially when it's just wasted."

When you put it like that Dad, it's difficult to argue.

But I'm going to have a go...

I don't think the Labor Party lost votes because they did a bad job. They lost votes because everyone's doing so well.

On average, Australians have more money today than they ever have, and they don't want to share it. Which is exactly why the Liberal Party won.

People used to vote for Labor because they had less money and were keen for sharing, as they would end up with more.

And that's the core of the problem right there.

We're selfish, and that's something that hasn't changed. The only thing that has changed is that in 2013, we're selfish with more money.

This selfish attitude is everywhere.

We build roads instead of improving the public transport system, because we don't want to share a seat.

Also, who needs the internet? I live in a city and its fast enough. Stuff anyone stupid enough not to live in a city.

Oh and rich people shouldn't pay more tax. Poor people should just work harder, and not get sick if they can't afford to.

Stuff foreign aid. If they want money, they can come to Australia and work for it - actually, no they can't.

Screw the asylum seekers. Giving more refugees a chance at a far better life in Australia is going to cost money.

We're not worried about refugees being terrorists, creating inner-city slums or the crime rates skyrocketing. All we're worried about how much it's going to cost.

The public servants are the most selfish of all. Labor governments give them the chance to improve things, but they just squeeze out the biggest wages they can, in exchange for the smallest possible effort.

We're all for one, but we're certainly not one for all.

With so many people in this country thinking only about themselves, maybe we've got the system that we deserve.

Where the most talented and intelligent people in this country don't go into politics where we need them, but stick to the private sector because it pays far better.

So despite what you might tell other people that you care about this election, and even what you tell yourself, remember the truth.

You voted for the Liberal Party because you believe that if you have money, you deserve a better life. That some humans are worth more than others.

Or your voted Labor because you have hope for a better world. And are prepared to be disappointed. Yet again.

Until we all stop being so selfish, none of this is going to change.

Actually, I voted Greens. Labor were my second-last preference, just above the Liberals.

Sorry Dad, but please don't worry. I haven't changed my mind about anything important. Whatever happens, I will NEVER stop barracking for North Melbourne.

11 comments

You are either very loyal or completely unaware, and I might add unsuspecting, of any thing real about the Machiavellian world of globalisation using political puppets and pawns.Your very lucky really ,to still have all that stardust sprinkled in your eyes.The greens? Really .Have a look at their role in globalisation , do some homework on them as an international globalised agency ,pushing the same barrow , just loaded with different self interest , peddling different policies,but still contributing to the cause ,just from a different angle.Donkey votes are just as effective today,as any other Whats with democracy---ask the last good man, Emeritus Pope Benedict

Commenter

Jane

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 7:05AM

"All that we call human history - money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery - [is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."

- C.S. LewisAnd Im sure he meant politicians in there too.

Commenter

Lane

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 7:59AM

You're wrong Xavier. People almost always start out voting Labor (ask the Liberal voters you know who they started voting for). Most uni students start out as Labor, almost all people that dont go to uni are Labor voters. We go different paths later. Those of us that get an education and actually go out creating businesses (and thus jobs for the masses) and on to earning good money can see that a thriving business/economy = better services, more money to spend etc. In general, those that don't get an education, join unions (the biggest mistake they can make - except police, nurses & teachers), look for handouts like its a right - and they vote Labor forever. It's THAT simple.

Commenter

RCheck

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 9:13AM

Some chronic over generalisation going on here. There's plenty of tradespeople without education who become very successful small business people rather than unionist labor voters. There's also plenty of overeducated champagne socialists who vote labor and quote Marx at dniner parties. Peeple have lots of different reasons for voting how they do.

Commenter

naards

Location

perth

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 10:18AM

What utter, generalised rubbish. I don't know what goldfish bowl you live in, but many of your 'so called under-educated tradespeople' earn more than some tertiary educated 'so called professional', many are anti-union, many are pro-union and many are ambivalent to unions altogether. This dumb idea that uni grads come out supporting the right is absolute rubbish. Just simplistic clap trap drawn from un-nuanced generalisations.

Furthermore, not everyone is motivated by money - think of some medical researchers who are more interested in finding a cure for an ailment than making a fortune.

Long term solutions come from looking at both classically "left" and 'right" and choosing the most appropriate solution. Look and find solutions that make more winners than losers rather than winner takes all. What is the point of having the ultimate health system that serves only a few, or a broader system that produces better health outcomes for more people enabling greater participation by more people.

Here's a thought too for the winner takes all type approach, look at South Africa or PNG - the ones that can't even get to the starting line in the race of life have to steal to survive, meanwhile the so called winners have to live in compounds for fear of theft and personal safety. Where driving on the streets is hazardous, personal security is constantly under threat and the haves have to spend huge amounts on security, high murder rates. Not really a good life for either.

Life is messy, not everyone fits neatly into prescribe boxes, not everything is predictable, not everyone wants the same thing and difference can be good.

Commenter

Skifitti

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 12:03PM

What's most laughable about this comment isn't its reliance on a gross generalisation but that you've in fact got it the wrong way around. There are plenty of studies which suggest those of lower intelligence tend to vote conservative. Indeed if you look at the electorates with the highest levels of university education they invariably vote to the left.

On the article itself, the so called shortcomings you identified in the ideologies of Labor and Liberal lead to both parties shifting closer to the centre (and thus the cries of there being no real differences between the parties)

Commenter

John

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 1:53PM

What a terribly one sided way of looking at things. Typical of green voters to frame everyone on the right as selfish, racist and unintelligent.

If the Greens had their way, we would have no mining to support us through the GFC, no money to give in foreign aid, and would be taking in 50k refugees a year (causing tremendous social issues as has been seen throughout a lot of Europe - hence the rise of the far right parties there). Maybe it is more that the voters on the left are just living in fairy land, where money grows on trees, we can continue to rack up large debts and not have to pay for them, and we don't actually compete in a globalised world so can tax everyone to the max and not have them want to move elsewhere???

Commenter

Nick

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 10:44AM

Labor lost votes because of three reasons:1) The Kevin Rudd/Julia Gillard factor - and all that entails - including a lot of people that voted for someone else - 'negative voting' rather than voting for policies - NEVER a good thing.2) With a few rare exceptions - the absolute bias of the media in this country and people stupid enough to just swallow what's promulgated without thinking and researching for themselves.3) The absolute worst election campaign I have ever seen - a complete shambles!

Commenter

Downsouth

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 11:11AM

I agree that this was the most miserable federal election I can recall, being a voter since1981. Disappointing on all fronts. I don't think the sky will fall, but don't think the world will suddenly get all rosy either. Public services, Federal & State, really should be top-notch, then people can stop worrying and agitating and get on with their work/life balances and being happy with what they have.

Supporting North Melbourne will certainly give one good practice with dealing with disappointment.

Commenter

37Bodie

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 12:33PM

Labor lost so many votes due to the constant in-fighting over who should be leader instead of doing their job. The sad part is they still did a good job, guided us through the GFC and have left our economy in a good position. Dumb people voted them out to get back at them and in time we will see it will be to their own detriment as Liberal bring in cuts that could really do damage to the economy.